THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022 Page 17 Annual How Much Does an Average Funeral Cost? Dear Savvy Senior, How much does a typical funeral and body burial cost today? My wife and I are interested in prearranging our funerals but would like to have a cost idea before going in so we can plan and budget appropriately. Planning Ahead Dear Planning, It definitely pays to know what charges to expect when pre-planning a funeral. Most people don’t have a clue and can often be upsold thousands of dollars’ worth of extra services they may not want or need. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect. Funeral Prices The fi rst thing you need to be aware of is that funeral costs will vary considerably depending on your geographic location, the funeral home you choose and the funeral choices you make. With that said, here’s a breakdown of what an average funeral costs, nationwide, according to the most recent data from the National Funeral Directors Association. Professional services fee: This is a basic non-declinable fee that covers the funeral provider’s time, expertise and overhead: $2,300. Transfer of the remains: This is for picking up the body and taking it to the funeral home: $350 Embalming and body preparation: Embalming is usually mandatory for opencasket viewing, otherwise it’s not required unless the body is going to be transported across state lines. Embalming costs $775. Other body preparations, which includes hairdressing and cosmetics runs $275. Funeral viewing and ceremony: If the viewing and funeral ceremony is at the funeral home, you’ll be charged for use of the chapel and any necessary staff . Costs: $450 for viewing, and $515 for funeral ceremony. Metal casket: This is a big money maker for funeral homes, with markups of up to 300 percent over the wholesale price: $2,500. Funeral transportation: Use of hearse and driver; $325 to transport the body to the cemetery. Use of a service car/ van: $150. Memorial printed package: This includes printed programs and memorial guest book: $183. In addition to these costs, there are also a number of cemetery costs like the plot or mausoleum fee, the vault or grave liner that most cemeteries require, and the opening and closing of the grave, all of which can run between $2,000 and $3,000; and the gravestone, which typically runs between $1,000 and $3,000. You’ll also need to budget for related expenses like fl owers for the funeral ($200 to $400), the newspaper obituary fee ($100 to $800 or more), the clergy honorarium ($200 to $300) and extra copies of the death certifi cate ($5 to $35 per copy depending on the state). All told, the average cost of a total U.S. funeral today with viewing and cemetery burial is around $12,000. Ways to Save If this is more than you’re willing or able to pay, there are ways to save. For starters, you should know that prices can vary signifi cantly by funeral provider, so it’s wise to shop around. If you need some help, there are websites you can turn to like Parting.com that lets you easily compare prices online based on what you want. When evaluating funeral providers, be sure you get an itemized price list of services and products so you can accurately compare and choose what you want. The most signifi cant way to save is to request a “direct burial” or “direct cremation.” With these options you and your wife would be buried or cremated shortly after death, which skips the embalming and viewing. If you want a memorial service, you can have it at the graveside or at your place of worship without the body. These services usually run between $1,000 and $3,000, not counting cemetery charges. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. T he Revere Veterans Committee in cooperation with Mayor Brian Arrigo will conduct their 17th annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 11, 2022, at the Joseph L. Mottola VFW Post 4524 (61 Lucia Ave., Revere, Mass.) at 5:00 p.m. on behalf of the Veterans of Revere. Invited guests are retired military personnel from the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea. Dinner and dancing to the music of DJ Alan LaBella will follow the event. A Chinese food buff et will be served at a cost of $20.00 per person. Anyone wishing to purchase a complete table of 10 in advance may call 781-244-7430. Individual tickets are being sold at the Revere Veterans Offi ce at 249 Rear Broadway Revere and by Al Terminiello, Jr. and Ira Novoselsky. Payments must be made by Monday, November 7, 2022. KITCHEN CABINETS To Look Like New 508-840-0501 FURNITURE STRIP & FINISH For Advertising with Results, call The Advocatecall The Advocate Newspapers Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@ advocatenews.net Veterans Day program on Nov. 11 at Joseph L. Mottola VFW Post Advocate Staff Report BLESSED MOTHER OF THE MORNING STAR PARISH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 9:30 am- 4:30 pm OUR LADY OF GRACE HALL 194 NICHOLS ST, EVERETT Raffles! Lots of Food! Music! White Elephant! Games! Crafts! Kids’ stuff! Santa! Goodies! Vendors! Door prizes! Surprises! 50/50 drawings all day long! Happy chaos! Christmas Fun! Join us for a day of Christmas Joy! Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish Our Lady of Grace, Chelsea/Everett St. Mary of the Assumption, Revere/Malden Offices: 670 Washington Ave, Revere 781-284-5252 morningstarcatholic.org Look up. Look ahead. - LEGAL NOTICE - To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner of a will has been admitted to informal probate. of has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve on the bond.
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